After Ze Fei finished speaking, Li Siheng emerged from the crowd as if parting the Red Sea. The first thing that caught attention was his expensive tailored suit, broad shoulders, and long legs. Next was his jet-black hair, and only then did people notice his face.
Li Siheng lived up to his name—his skin was as pale as jade, and though his delicate features closely resembled Ze Fei’s, his demeanor was far more reserved, gentle, and classical. The slender curve of his eyes and his gray, moonstone-like irises gave him an almost luminous quality.
He walked slowly to Ze Fei’s side, nodded at Lin Zhiyan and Ai Wen, then lowered his gaze.
Lin Zhiyan found it strange. Both brothers were flawlessly beautiful, yet when the darker-haired Li Siheng stood beside Ze Fei, it was Ze Fei’s regal elegance that drew the eye first.
Wait—their names and hair colors didn’t even suggest they were from the same family.
The realization struck her belatedly.
"Siheng, greet them properly," Ze Fei said with a smile, his eyes crinkling beneath his hair. "Don’t be rude."
Li Siheng’s lashes fluttered slightly before he lifted his face—just as striking as his brother’s—and offered a slow, deliberate smile. Finally, he extended his hand, his voice soft. "Hello, Lin Zhiyan."
He wore black silk gloves that covered his slender fingers all the way to his wrists.
"Uh, hi," Lin Zhiyan replied, reaching out.
But their handshake barely lasted a second—just fingertips brushing fingertips—before Li Siheng withdrew, leaving only the fleeting sensation of silk against her skin. To an outsider, his demeanor might have seemed indifferent, even lazy.
Ze Fei chuckled, pretending not to notice. "Are you both free? The banquet’s gotten a bit dull. We could grab a bite and chat—maybe even discuss some academic matters."
The moment he finished speaking, Ai Wen practically leaped from her seat. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her tone theatrically apologetic. "Senior Ze Fei, I’m so sorry! The dorm supervisor called a meeting tonight—I really have to go!"
Ai Wen was quick to abandon her friend, but Lin Zhiyan was just as fast. She grabbed Ai Wen’s wrist, putting on a show of camaraderie. "Maybe we can reschedule? We should probably head out now."
"Is that so?" Ze Fei’s smile didn’t waver. He gestured to a passing tray. "But Lin Zhiyan, you didn’t apply for a dorm, did you?"
Lin Zhiyan: "…"
How did he even know that?
What was his deal?
After a pause, she replied, "I still need to take the skyrail home. If I leave too late, there won’t be any trains."
"No worries. My driver can take you back." Ze Fei signaled a waiter, who brought over two glasses of beer. "Ai Wen, you should go. Don’t be late. Lin Zhiyan, try this—it’s a local berry beer from the central district."
Great. The guy really did have beer.
Lin Zhiyan accepted the glass, staring blankly at Ai Wen’s retreating figure. She knew there was no escape now. Ze Fei sat across from her, then glanced at Li Siheng, who silently took a seat as well.
Ze Fei took a sip of his drink. "You’re impressive. Scoring so well despite coming from an area with such scarce educational resources. I also read your entrance exam essays—they were beautifully written."
The entrance exam included specialized papers alongside core subjects.
Lin Zhiyan wasn’t used to the sudden praise and could only offer an awkward smile.
"The freshman handbook covers the basics, but it’s not exhaustive," Ze Fei said abruptly, his lips curving. Then, his gaze settled on her, gentle as rippling water beneath his pale lashes. "The school’s coursework is intense, grading varies by professor, and teaching styles differ wildly."
Lin Zhiyan braced herself—he was getting to the point.
Sure enough, seconds later, Ze Fei continued, "Siheng completed a year of preparatory studies before enrollment. If you have any questions about classes, exams, or the school itself, he can help. And if you ever need anything outside academics, feel free to ask him too. I’m sure you’ll become great friends."
Ah. So he wanted her to carry him for credits. Weird how he made it sound like she was the one asking for favors.
"We’re all equals here. If he ever needs my help, I’ll do my best," Lin Zhiyan said after a beat, then added with a laugh, "But you know my situation. Aside from decent grades, I don’t have any special skills. Besides, he ranked second—the gap between us isn’t even that big. Not much I can do for him."
She meant it. School was just lectures, group projects, exams, and extracurriculars. They could find help anywhere—why her?
Ze Fei took another sip, his lips glistening with beer, a faint flush spreading across his cheeks. He arched a brow, amused, as if she’d told a joke. "Like I said, if you’re unsure about anything, ask Siheng."
Lin Zhiyan: "…?"
What was he even saying?
Before she could ask, the quiet and docile Li Siheng spoke up, his voice still soft and measured. "The Human Civilization Continuation program is highly favored by public institutions. They believe its graduates are ideal for policymaking—places like the Interstellar Civilization Association, the Interstellar Public Strategy Bureau, or the Imperial Ministry of Education."
Lin Zhiyan looked at him, but his lashes remained lowered as he continued, "Outstanding grades require robust extracurriculars, and vice versa. I’m part of a research project, and I think you’d be a perfect fit."
Lin Zhiyan: "…"
Holy hell, already?
It’s orientation week—classes haven’t even started!
Stunned, it took her a moment to respond. "Uh… what would I need to do?"
Li Siheng fell silent again, like a beautiful doll whose battery had died. Ze Fei, ever radiant, took over with a smile. "Just join the project. Someone will guide you through the rest. It’s all very simple."
…Could he make it sound any more like they were about to perform human experiments?
Lin Zhiyan hesitated. "I think I’d need to understand more first. Maybe I’ll discuss it with Li Siheng later before deciding."
"Of course." Ze Fei laughed, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t worry—it’s just academic research. Most pre-enrollment students join projects early. You’ll see."
Certain specialized programs collaborate with universities to design preparatory courses for high school graduates, allowing them to advance directly upon completion. For instance, some students in our Military-Political Department had already finished all their coursework at military academies before enrollment and now receive higher-level training here.
Who knew liberal arts programs could operate the same way? This person speaks so eloquently—instantly creating a sense of urgency, as if everyone’s scrambling to outdo each other.
Lin Zhiyan couldn’t help but glance at Ze Fei a few more times.
Ze Fei didn’t seem bothered by her gaze. "What is it?" he asked.
"You’re very good-looking, Senior Ze Fei," Lin Zhiyan replied.
"Thank you," Ze Fei accepted graciously, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "It’s getting late. I’ll have the driver take you back."
He paused, then added, "Actually, Siheng is heading back too. You two can chat on the way—get to know each other better."
"Somehow, I feel like you’re very eager for me to interact with him," Lin Zhiyan remarked.
"Perhaps because I believe he could learn from you," Ze Fei said with a light chuckle, standing up. He turned to Li Siheng. "Escort Lin to the car."
Li Siheng rose, and Lin Zhiyan followed without protest.
She wasn’t entirely sure what they were up to, but hey—free ride home!
The two walked out of the banquet hall into the chilly night air, though the silence between them was even colder.
Once in the car, Lin Zhiyan pulled out her terminal, bombarded by a flurry of messages from Ai Wen.
[Ai Wen: Sorry I dipped—that atmosphere was terrifying.]
[Ai Wen: I was scared I’d accidentally offend them.]
[Ai Wen: You alive? You okay?]
[LIN: I’m fine. Heading home now.]
[LIN: Are they brothers? Why don’t they share a last name?]
[Ai Wen: Cousins. Their moms are twin sisters, so they look almost identical.]
[Ai Wen: Oh, there’s something I’m not sure if I should tell you…]
[Ai Wen: Never mind, I’ll just say it.]
[Ai Wen: Ze Fei’s father owns the Solent Education Group—over 300 private schools under their umbrella. His mother works in a strategic think tank. Li Siheng’s father is the Minister of Education. His prep school grades were stellar, and his thesis topic aligned with policies his father had previously advocated. Everyone assumes he’ll rank first in the entrance exams.]
[Ai Wen: Anyway, you get it. I shouldn’t say more. Be careful.]
Ai Wen typed at lightning speed, guilt-ridden for leaving Lin Zhiyan to deal with them alone. She spilled everything, then hastily retracted her messages, leaving only an emoji.
Lin Zhiyan waited two minutes before replying with a question mark, claiming she hadn’t seen anything, then turned off her screen.
No wonder Ze Fei knew so much about her—she’d unwittingly taken someone else’s spot.
She glanced at Li Siheng. The car’s interior was dark, save for fleeting flashes of light from outside, illuminating his striking yet lifeless features before plunging them back into shadow. After a moment, she asked, "Do you need me for your project?"
Li Siheng met her gaze, his gray-black eyes glimmering faintly in the dimness.
"How much do you want?" he said.
Lin Zhiyan blinked.
"How much would it take for every paper, assignment, grade, and accolade you earn from now on to bear my name?" Li Siheng paused, then added, "That’s what Ze Fei really meant."
Lin Zhiyan’s voice turned icy. "So ‘joining your project’ means joining a team that builds your resume for you?"
Li Siheng nodded, closing his eyes as if resting. His words drifted into the air. "Had I delivered the opening speech, I would’ve discussed educational inequality—cutting public education funding, advocating for open policies and more private institutions."
"But you didn’t make it to the podium," Lin Zhiyan pointed out.
"No," Li Siheng admitted, opening his eyes. "So I must endure this humiliation."
Lin Zhiyan fell silent for a few seconds. "The humiliation of me being your ghostwriter?"
"No. You won’t be my ghostwriter. I know that, and so does Ze Fei." Li Siheng spoke slowly. "Ze Fei wants me to realize I lost to someone from District 16."
Meaning: forcing Li Siheng to interact with a "commoner" like her was the insult?
The moment she grasped the logic, Lin Zhiyan nearly laughed in disbelief.
Are we peasants just props in your aristocrats’ obedience tests?!
Hearing her stifled laughter, Li Siheng looked at her. "I don’t see it that way. We’re no different. If I offended you, I apologize."
He sounded perfectly civil.
"Save it. Right now, anything you say just feels like part of the humiliation," Lin Zhiyan said flatly.
Li Siheng hesitated. "I’m sorry."
Lin Zhiyan didn’t respond, despairingly aware that she was almost getting used to this.
A few days in the Central District, and she was already acclimating to being treated like dirt. What a promising future.
The rest of the ride passed in silence until the car stopped in a desolate area.
Lin Zhiyan stepped out, then turned back to Li Siheng. "Humiliating or not, the free ride was nice."
"That wasn’t my intention," Li Siheng said.
Then, softly, he added, "I liked your magic trick."
"But you went along with it, didn’t you?" Lin Zhiyan leaned down to meet his eyes.
Li Siheng lowered his gaze briefly before looking back at her. "I had no choice."
Lin Zhiyan smiled. "Then I have no choice but to assume you’re all the same."
She straightened. "Goodbye—or rather, maybe I’ll only see your ‘team’ from now on."
The door shut.
Li Siheng watched her walk away, her back straight, dark hair fluttering in the wind. Under the dim streetlight, she moved unhurriedly through the bleak surroundings until her figure vanished into the distance.
He sighed quietly, then took out his terminal and dialed Ze Fei.
"She refused," he said tonelessly.
"Are you stupid or pretending to be?" Ze Fei’s voice was laced with amusement, the howling wind nearly drowning his words. "Of course she’d reject a demand from privilege. But she might not refuse an exchange of benefits."
Ze Fei leaned against a railing, his ash-gray hair tousled by the wind as he gazed down at the glittering cityscape.
"Still, she’s unimportant—just a minor lesson on your path. Don’t waste energy. Focus on securing Toya Audran’s class. She’ll give you the grades you need. Your assistants have arranged all the required community engagements—just show up. No more mistakes. You know how unforgiving some opportunities can be about GPAs."
Li Siheng was silent for a moment before nodding.
Soon, the car disappeared into the night.
Dawn broke, and orientation week passed in a blink.
Lin Zhiyan stared at her terminal, scrolling through course options with growing despair.
The required credits for both compulsory and elective courses were overwhelmingly high. On top of that, there were countless other demands—club activities, social practice, project honors, and all sorts of miscellaneous requirements. At a glance, it seemed like surviving until graduation would either require studying to death or having enough money and connections to secure projects.
Lin Zhiyan had it worse than studying to death—she also had to work part-time. At this moment, she felt that if she were illiterate, life would be much simpler. At least she wouldn’t have to suffer the hardships of academia.
She kept scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, searching for courses with shorter durations.
Soon, she came across one.
Modern Customs and Cultural History of the Sixteen Districts
Professor: Toya Audran
Duration: Three weeks
Eligibility: 1st to 4th-year students, all departments
Assessment: Exam
Credits: 4
Lin Zhiyan’s eyes widened.
This one course was worth two in credits!
She had a feeling there must be some catch for it to be so valuable, but her finger had already tapped the enrollment button.
